Beit Iba, Jit, Wed 26.12.07, Morning

 Beit Iba. There are few people because El Nagach in on holiday. The x-ray machine for men who are leaving Nablus takes time and this will cause problems when there is pressure. The checking by the dog infuriates people.We heard how the secret service destroys the Palestinian society. At Jit there is no checkpoint.

Beit Iba. 8.00 – 9.30. There are few cars because of the lack of permits to enter Nablus. Today there is a dog and two trainers and they are very active and sometimes two cars are checked at one time. It seems that this checking is a training session both for the trainers and for the dog. We spoke to the occupants of the car who stood far off and they were very angry as the dog is considered an unclean animal in their religion.  Now they will have to clean it thoroughly. The owner who has a factory next to the checkpoint says that the soldiers know him so why do they send the dog into his car each time.

They also claim that the new items at the checkpoint which has been renovated cause problems  and this is in opposition to the policy which the media reports.

There are few people because of the university vacation at El Nagach where 20.000 people study. The total number of students at the University of Nablus is 30.000.

At the entrance to Nablus IDs are checked and those exiting also have parcels and bags checked.  The young men go through the x-ray machine  and this is awful. At first the men take off their coats, their belts and try to pass.  When the machine whistles they take off their watches and then the ring and so on and so on.  Each one goes through 3-5 times and in the morning although it prolongs the procedure no queue is formed. But what will happen in the afternoon and all the students come home for the weekend.

There are two detainees whose numbers have come up on the list and soon a third one joins them…their last numbers are the same as suspected people and afterwards they are released. At the kiosk a rich man who owns a business and also is involved with Israelis has a free pass to Israel. It seems that he who has money can make life easier even under the occupation.  One speaks with longing of the days when he worked in Israel. Another says that the secret service knows everything about a Palestinian from the moment he is born. How come? You never know who works for the secret service…it could be your neighbour or a family member or someone who sits next to you at the table and even the person himself. This crushes the society as what relationships can people have if they cannot trust one another.